If you live abroad you probably know a couple of clubs devoted to gaming right? From what I understand in some foreign countries the associative spirit is encouraged from an early age, starting in schools which promote many “interest clubs” ranging from book clubs, debate clubs and math teams to varied hobby clubs and gaming clubs.

It’s no secret that clubs have a great social aspect not only promoting the interaction between members, and the opportunity to exercise their common interest, but also being a reassuring factor to members showing that no matter how “weird” your hobby/personal interest may be, there’s others out there who share your passion, even if it’s sock sniffing (ok, there might not be clubs around for THAT!).

Well, for some reason I can’t fathom clubs are not that common in Brazil. We do have tennis clubs pretty much everywhere (go figure right? Every small town I’ve lived in for the last 8 years had one) with their inevitable tennis courts and swimming pools, and we do have some schools which encourage its students to form student councils but the hobby clubs are almost non-existent in schools.

So it should come as no surprise to you that gaming clubs are a recent innovation in the hobby scenario in Brazil but fortunately more and more wargamers around the country are feeling the need to associate and clubs are appearing all over the country. We went from a single club scenario, the now extinct “Martelo de Guerra” (“Warhammer” in English) in Rio de Janeiro, to a multi-club one in the space of a few years.

Today we have clubs like “BOS – Bomb of Slaanesh” in the city of Sao Paulo; “Warhound” in Rio de Janeiro; “Tropas Polares” (“Polar Troops” in English) in Curitiba; “Campinas at War” in Campinas and the “CGW – Clube Gaucho de Wargames” em Porto Alegre.

The latest addition to that roll is the “CPW – Clube Paulista de Wargames” (“Wargaming club of Sao Paulo” in a free translation) which started its activities back in June 2012 innovating the club scenario in Brazil as it is, currently, the only club with its own clubhouse in which encounters of its members are promoted and in which future events and tournaments may be held.

Sporting gaming tables and assorted scenario pieces for many gaming systems visiting the “CPW” club is a must if you’re a wargammer in Sao Paulo or only passing through. They even sport a painting area where members can work on their armies while sharing good laughs and the atmosphere, so if you feel like dropping buy send the guys from “CPW” an email at: cpwargames@gmail.com.

To wrap this up I’d like to congratulate the guys involved in the “CPW” initiative wishing them, and every other club out there, live long and prosper in service of the hobby!

Finally I’d also like to thank my good mate Andre “Streem” (from the ReLOAD vlog) who gave me permission to use his photographs of the club, that illustrate this post, and to replicate his video about the club’s set up.